On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2160 Proclaiming to the Whole City

The pressure of the silver ingot on his shoulder suddenly increased, causing Qian Wu to scream in pain. Several constables nearby could not hold back and stepped forward to punch and kick Qian Wu, cursing incessantly.

Su Zhenhai was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed, and he kicked him again: "Anxiang? You're just making excuses for your viciousness!"

Qian Wu curled up on the ground, covering his head and begging for mercy. His clothes, which were already tattered, were now covered in mud and blood, making him look extremely disheveled.

Young Master Ding coughed even more violently, and Madam Ding quickly tried to help him catch his breath, her eyes red as if they were about to bleed.

After a long while, Su Zhenhai finally stopped everyone, and the courtyard returned to its previous silence, with only Qian Wu's suppressed groans of pain remaining.

Yan Ruyu walked up to Qian Wu, squatted down, her gaze still calm, yet carrying a clear understanding of everything. She slowly spoke, asking the question everyone was concerned about: "Then what's wrong with your face? Why does it look exactly like the real Governor Ding?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Wu's body stiffened abruptly, and the groans he had been making instantly ceased. His eyes darted away, avoiding Yan Ruyu's gaze, and also avoiding looking at anyone else in the courtyard.

All eyes were fixed on Qian Wu, waiting for his answer.

Young Master Ding also forced himself to stay alert and stared at Qian Wu.

Madam Ding's heart was in her throat. She also wanted to know what kind of evil magic this scoundrel had used to be able to act recklessly in Rongzhou for so many years while wearing her husband's face.

After a long while, Qian Wu slowly spoke: "This face was changed for me by a sorcerer using a secret technique."

Yan Ruyu raised an eyebrow slightly: "A wandering sorcerer? Explain in detail."

Qian Wu wiped the congealed blood from the corner of his mouth: "That sorcerer knows some unorthodox methods, like changing one's appearance."

"He gave me a bowl of dark, bitter medicine to drink, and I passed out shortly after drinking it."

When I woke up again, my face felt numb and swollen, as if I was being gently pricked by countless fine needles. When I touched it, the texture was different from before.

At that time, I didn't dare look in the mirror until he handed me a bronze mirror, and I realized that my face was exactly the same as Governor Ding's.

"As for what secret technique he used, I really don't know," Qian Wu hurriedly added, his tone tinged with urgency. "I asked him after I woke up, but he just said not to ask what you shouldn't ask."

I didn't even see exactly how he did it.

Yan Ruyu stared into Qian Wu's eyes: "What's that sorcerer's surname and given name? What does he look like? Where is he now?"

Qian Wu lowered his head even further, his tone full of helplessness: "I really don't know. When he dealt with me, he always said he was a 'wandering man of the martial world,' and never mentioned his secular name."

His appearance... He always wore a black mask, only revealing his eyes and the lower half of his face. His eyes were quite big, but there was nothing particularly special about them.

The voice was strange, low and hoarse, as if deliberately speaking in a pinched voice; it was impossible to tell if it was male or female, let alone recognize the person.

"Pah!" Yin Ding couldn't help but laugh in anger, kicking Qian Wu's knee with his foot, his face full of disdain, "So you're completely clueless."

No, it's five things you don't know! You don't know anything about them—their surname, given name, what they look like, where they live, or how they had their faces changed!

"Do you even have a brain?"

Qian Wu said with a bitter face, "I really can't remember! I was dizzy at the time, and when I woke up, my face had been changed."

Su Zhenhai pointed to the dozen or so corpses covered with white sheets, his voice filled with anger: "What about these corpses? You'd better tell me the truth!"

Qian Wu's body stiffened visibly, and his fingers curled up.

He was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "They are all... they are all old servants from the governor's mansion."

Some of them grew up with Governor Ding and are extremely loyal to him; I'm afraid they'll see through my disguise.

Some people are very perceptive. They noticed that my behavior was different from that of the previous Prefect Ding, and they became suspicious.

I had no choice but to find a pretext to kill them all and secretly bury them under the flowerbed in the mansion.

“Flower garden…” When Madam Ding heard these two words, her hand holding the stretcher swayed slightly, and tears fell again. “My husband loved flowers and plants the most when he was alive. Every morning he would go to the flower garden to take care of them. He remembered clearly which flower needed watering and which flower needed fertilizing.

But ever since you came, the flowers in the nursery haven't been doing well. The expensive varieties we bought wither within days, and you never seem to care..."

Huo Changhe stood under the corridor, his cold gaze fixed on Qian Wu, his voice devoid of any warmth: "The former Prefect Ding loved flowers and plants and knew how to grow them, but you don't, so you only buy them, and the flowers you grow often die, isn't that right?"

Qian Wu didn't dare to look up, but nodded slightly, his voice barely audible: "Yes... I've never raised these things since I was a child, and I don't know how to take care of them. I bought the flowers just to make a show of it, afraid that people would notice something was wrong."

The courtyard fell silent, save for the sound of burning torches and Madam Ding's suppressed sobs.

Yan Ruyu remained silent for a moment, then turned to look at Madam Ding, her tone softening and showing a hint of respect: "Madam, this matter concerns Governor Ding's posthumous reputation."

Now that the truth has come to light, it's up to you whether or not to post a notice to inform the public of the whole story and let everyone know the truth.

Madam Ding's eyes were red-rimmed, but her gaze was filled with determination.

She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, her words resounding: "It must be posted! My husband was an upright and honest man throughout his life, yet after his death this scoundrel has taken his place, and may even have done things that tarnish his reputation, causing the people to misunderstand and curse him—this is so unfair!"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the people in the courtyard, her tone becoming increasingly firm: "This is not a family scandal, I am not afraid of being talked about."

All I want is justice for my husband, to let everyone know that he has always been a good official and has never let down the people of Rongzhou!

“That’s right!” Young Master Ding leaned against the stretcher, trying to sit up straighter. “We must give Father a good reputation after his death, and not let him bear the infamy even in the afterlife.”

Those old servants who were killed by this scoundrel deserve to have their families told the truth, so they can rest in peace.

Looking at the determined expressions of the mother and son, Huo Changhe nodded slowly, then turned to Su Zhenhai and said in a steady and powerful tone, "Then let's do as Madam says."

You should immediately arrange for someone to write a notice, clearly stating Qian Wu's crimes and the true fate of Prefect Ding, and post it at every street corner in Rongzhou so that the people can know the truth.

"Everyone must know that Prefect Ding dedicated his life to the people and never wronged them in the slightest."

Su Zhenhai immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and replied, "Yes! We will not allow Prefect Ding to be wronged, nor will we allow this villain's crimes to be covered up!"